Sheep-shearing table



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SHEEP SHEARING TABLE. y

Patented Oct. 31, '1882.

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M. T. ROSE. SHEEP SHEARING .IABLE.

No. 266,896. Patented 0013. 31, 1882.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

MILTON T. ROSE, OF ORLAND, INDIANA.

SHEEP-SHEAR'ING TA-BLE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 266,896, dated October 31, 1882,

Application filed August 2, 1882.

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, MILTON '1. Ross, of ()rland,in the county of Steuben and State of Indiana, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Sheep-Shearing Tables; and 1 do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it pertains to make and use it, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which form part of this specification.

My invention relates to an improvement in tables for shearing sheep; and it consists in the arrangement and combination of parts, which will be more fully described hereinafter, whereby a sheep can be securely strapped upon the table for the purpose of having its fleece removed, or to dress its wounds, or for doctoriug its feet, and then, after the sheep has been removed, can be used for packing or bundling the fleece.

Figure l is a plan view of my invention, showing the table ready to have a sheep placed upon it. Fig. 2 is a similar view, showing the hinged parts turned up to bundle the fleece after the sheep has been removed. Fig. 3 is an inverted view of the table. Fig. 4 is a longitudiual vertical section of the table. Figs. 5 and 6 are detailed views. Fig. 7 is a side elevation of the'table complete in use for shearlng.

A represents the frame of the table, which is provided with the inwardly-sloping sides and with the folding legs 0. These legs are made folding so that the table can be packed in a very small compass when not in use, and so that it can be readily transported and put up for use at any desired place.

When the sheep is to be placed upon the table to be sheared the different parts which form the top of' the table are closed down so as to form a continuous level surface, the same as the top of any ordinary table. The two removable pieces D, which form the trough or hollow in which the sheep is held while being sheared, are then placed upon the table so that each one will bear against the side of the neckblock E. Each one of the inclined pieces D is provided with suitable pins or projections, which extend frointheir under sides, and which fit in holes made in the top of the table. These (No model.)

pieces form a sort of a trough in which the sheep is placed, either upon its hackor upon one side, and while lying upon its side its feet are held above the top of the table, so that it can get no foothold should it attempt to get up.

. In order to hold the sheep down while being sheared, the pivoted lever F, having a suitable notch in its under edge to correspond with the shape of the neck of the sheep, is pressed down across the table over the sheeps neck, and it is then held in this position by means ofa rope or chain, G, which is secured at its lower end to a crank-lever, H. To the other end or corner of the lever is fastened a cord, wire, or chain, 1, hich has its other end last ened to the lever J, which is pivoted upon one end of the table. To the upper end of this lever, which extends a suitable distance above the top ofthe table, is fastened a suitable strap, K, which is provided with a buckle, hook, or other device for shortening it. Fastened to this strap K is a suitable cord, which is to be fastened to one of the hind legs of the sheep as it lies upon the table. By means of the strap K the cord can be shortened, so as to hold the hind leg of the sheep stretched out, and thus prevent the sheep from getting into a position where it can struggle to get up. Also fastened to the lower end of the lever J is a cord, wire, or chain, M, which has the two shoulder-straps IT secured to its inner end, and which straps pass up over suitable guiding-rollers, t), and have their upper ends pro vided with suitable hooks or buckles. As the sheep is lying on its side one of these straps is passed under the upper fore leg and then drawn back across the shoulder and fastened, as tightly as possible, by having the end of the strap fastened to the strap itself by means of a hook, buckle, or other contrivance. It will be seen that the connecting-cords are fastened to the lever J at both of its ends, so that when the shoulder-straps N are pulled upon,

or when the strap K, fastened to the hind leg,-

is pulled upon, they act upon the lever Jin such a manner as to tighten the other strap, and thus hold the sheep more securely. The more itstruggles the more the straps and cords are tightened, and the tighter it is held. After the sheep has been sheared upon one side, and

ened, and the neck can be freely operated upon.

After the sheep has been shorn its fleece remains upon the table, ready to be packed into a bundle. The inclined pieces which form the trough and hold the sheep are removed,the

neck-lever is turned back out of the way, and

the shoulder-straps are turned back over the edge of the table, and the hinged parts of the table, which are to be used in packing the fleece, can then he turned up in position, as shown in Fig. 2. These hinged pieces consist of the two longitudinal pieces P, which extend the whole length of the table, and the two shorter pieces, Q, which are pivoted to the grooved centerpiece, 1t, and which pieces Q open at right angles to the length of the table. Hinged to the under side of the table are the two supports S, which are made U-shaped, and which, being heaviest at their lower ends, will automatically rise as soon as the hinged parts are raised, and thus hold the hinged parts in position. These U-shaped pieces are simply hinged braces, which by hearing against the outer sides of the hinged parts prevent them from dropping back while the fleece is being forced down in between them. The four hinged pieces and the grooved bottom 1% form a box which is open at its top only, and into which the fleece is packed. Each one of the pieces are grooved so that suitable strings, cords, or wires can be run back and forth in the grooves, and thus be held in position, ready to tie over the top of the fleece after it has been packed in the box. cord or wire may be secured in any suitable manner, and then, after the cord has been run back and forth through the grooves, the lower end will he held by means of a spring, U, which will prevent the cord from slipping. After the fleece has been packed in the box the string will tie over itstop. Thehinged parts One end of theare then closed down upon the top of the table,

as in the first instance, and the table is ready to have the pieces which form the trough and the neck-rest returned to place, when it is ready for another sheep.

Having thus described my invention, I claim- 1. The combination, with the table, of the levers F, H, and J, with suitable connectingcords, the upper end of the lever J being fastened in any suitable manner to one of-the hind legs of the sheep, substantially as shown.

2. The combination of the lever J, pivoted upon one end of the table, and provided with strap K for fastening its upper end to the hind leg of the sheep, with suitable connecting cords and straps, M N, which are fastened to the lower end of the lever, and which straps N are fastened to the shoulders of the sheep, substantially as specified.

3. The combination of a lever for catching over the neck of the sheep, the pivoted levers H J, and suitable connecting-cords, with the cord and shoulder-straps which are secured to the lower end of the lever J, and a suitable strap and cord which is secured to the upper end of the lever J, substantially as shown.

4. The combination, with a sheepshearing table having its top formed of a number of hinged pieces which can be turned up so as to form a box, of the self-adjusting braces which move at right angles to each other, and which catch against the under sides of the turned-up parts and hold them in position, substantially as described.

5. A table for sheep-shearing purposes, provided with a trough for holding the sheep in place upon thetable, the levers F H J, and suitable straps for connecting the levers to the sheep, in combination with the hinged parts P Q, which form the sides of the press in which the fleece is bundled after the sheep is removed from the table, substantially as described.

In testimony whereofI-affix my signa turcin presence of two witnesses.

MlLTON T. ROSE. Witnesses: EZRA A. SMITH,

AUGUSTUS KIMBALL. 

